Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 263: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of councillors in each local authority area here; the population of each local authority area as per the most recent census; the ratio of population to councillors in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2861/08]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 264: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of town councils here; the number of councillors per town council; the population served by each town council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2862/08]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 265: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the population increase in the Fingal area in recent years and that this population is only represented by 24 councillors, giving a very low level of representation compared to counties such as Leitrim; if he proposes to make provision for an increase in the number of councillors for Fingal for the 2009 local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2863/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 to 265, inclusive, together.

The following tables set out the number of councillors in each local authority area, the population of each local authority and the ratios of elected members to population by local authority, as per Census 2006.

The number of elected members in each local authority is set out in section 21 and schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2001. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a Green Paper on Local Government Reform, which will examine a number of issues in relation to the organisation of local government. The Green Paper will be published shortly; a White Paper on Local Government Reform will follow later in 2008. As part of this reform process I will give consideration to those parts of the Local Government Act 2001 which have not yet been commenced, including section 22 which provides for the alteration of the number of members of a local authority.

I have recently established two Committees to review local electoral areas and to report to me not later than 20 June 2008. The Committees are to review the ratio of population to elected members in each local electoral area with a view to ensuring a reasonable relationship between the current population and representation within each local authority. For this purpose, the Committees are to assume no change in the total membership of each local authority. I will consider the Committees' reports as the basis for a revision of the local electoral areas for use at the local elections to be held in 2009.